Omnisend research: Brits take up side hustles to generate some extra cash amidst cost-of-living crisis

50.3% of Brits have turned to a side hustle - such as e-commerce, freelance work and tutoring - to counter challenging living costs, according to a new report by e-commerce marketing platform Omnisend.

1,000 people were surveyed for this. 

While the UK has famously been described as a ‘nation of shopkeepers’, it’s not far from the truth, as nearly three-quarters of people with a side hustle (72%) are selling online - equivalent to 19 million Brits.

E-commerce activities include selling general goods (50%), self-crafted items (13%) and drop-shipping (9%). Drop-shipping in particular has boomed since the Pandemic, as budding entrepreneurs looked to make money from the rise in online shopping.

Seven in ten people with a side hustle are spending more than five hours per week doing this extra job - equivalent to almost another full day of work.

While 66% of people are only recording earnings of less than £500, that doesn’t stop their ambition to earn more, with 47% saying they would like to go full-time with their venture. A fifth are earning between £500 and £1,000 and a fortunate one in ten are raking in between £1,000 and £5,000 per month.

Greg Zakowicz, Senior E-commerce Expert at Omnisend, comments: “The British entrepreneurial spirit is in full swing with millions of people looking to set up their own side hustle to boost their earnings. The Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing cost-of-living crisis have driven many people to find innovative ways to make money online.”

“Popular e-commerce sites like Vinted, Depop and Etsy have amassed millions of fans that use the platforms to sell their products, but it is surprising just how much money Brits are taking home from setting up their own shopping business.”

"What’s often overlooked is the growing competition in the side hustle space. As it has become easier to sell goods, crowded marketplaces for products and freelance work leave most people stuck earning smaller amounts.”

"However, with over one million adults earning more than £1,000 per month, there's potential for significant income. Scaling these casual operations often requires making their side job their primary one - a risky step that many Brits are considering, but don’t take the plunge.”

“Dropshipping has surged in popularity following the downfall of catalogue shopping and the rise of digital marketplaces has clearly made it a scalable business model.”

2024 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

E-commerce is a key focus area for the sixth edition of the RTIH Innovation Awards, which is now open for entries.

The awards, sponsored by Scala, CADS, 3D Cloud, Brightpearl by Sage’s Lightning 50, and Retail Technology Show 2025, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Key 2024 dates

Friday, 25th October: Award entry deadline 

Tuesday, 29th October: 2024 shortlist revealed

30th October-6th November: Judging days

Thursday, 21st November: Winners announced at the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony, to be held at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London.